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It was the summation of all these words that forced our fallen heroes and freedom fighters to take up arms and defend what truly belonged to us. They were determined to fight any injustices and everything that sought to destroy the Zimbabweans as a people and as a nation.
Therefore as we prepare to commemorate Heroes’ Day early next month, we should remember our daughters and sons who sacrificed their lives in a bitter and hard armed struggle. A Guide to the Heroes’ Acre Zimbabwe states that we should also remember that the Heroes’ Acre was built to honour the heroes in Zimbabwe, past, present and future and include national leaders, freedom fighters and dedicated supporters of the national liberation who participated in and undertook revolutionary activities that contributed to the final victory of declaring Independence on 18 April 1980.
Wutawunashe clearly postulates that Blackness, African-ness have always been under mortal threat and assaults. This threat is not coincidental but rather planned and orchestrated. The illustrious sons and daughters of Zimbabwe therefore made great strides to create a new socio-economic order based on egalitarian, democratic and socialist principles. A Guide to the Heroes’ Acre Zimbabwe further points out that these fallen heroes were fearless and courageous champions of justice and they abhorred tribalism, racialism and oppression.
The primary reason why Zimbabwe was colonised was space, resources and primacy to the extent that Cecil John Rhodes came to Southern Africa for sunshine on medical advice. They were interested in our land, ivory, gold and diamonds. It is this history that we should pass on to our youths and children so that they strive as much as possible to remain African, to remain Zimbabwean, to remain true children of the soil.
It is of no use for our own children to try to be Englishmen and Frenchmen. We are a Zimbabwean people, an African people so let us guard our culture, norms and values jealously so that the bloodshed, the lives lost, the souls of our ancestors uMbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi uMzilikazi loLozikheyi can rest.
It is high time our own children are taught about our own liberation struggle, wars of liberation and how Africa and the black people suffered at the hands of the colonisers. Put rightly, Wutawunashe points out that rather than having our own children admire United States marines attacking Iraq, why can’t they know about Zanla, Zipra, Frelimo, Swapo or Mau Mau armies fighting for liberation of black people.
In the same vein, President Mugabe said that the spirit of these heroes should be kept alive, nurtured and cherished not only for the present but for the future generations of Zimbabwe, so that these generations can always dedicate themselves to the ideals of the heroes who are buried at the Heroes’ Acre.
What is surprising is that even after the hard-won Independence, the same colonisers are still interested in Zimbabwe. It is true that Zimbabwe holds this unique position on the globe. One starts wondering what Zimbabwe has which every other country the world over does not have. The book Black Empowerment versus Disempowerment of Blacks states that between 1965 and 1978 Rhodesia under Ian Smith was a rogue country and the focus was on Rhodesia.
The heroes buried at the Heroes’ Acre include Herbert W Chitepo, Leopold Takawira, Josiah Magama Tongogara, Simon Mazorodze, Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, Sally Mugabe, Josiah Chinamano, Christopher Ushewokunze, Retired General Solomon Mujuru, Chief Rekayi Tangwena, George Silundika, Sydney Malunga, just to mention but a few. In this issue two biographies of these heroes will be discussed not because of merit but space.
Sarah Francesca Mugabe, the former First Lady was the first heroine to be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre. She passed on in Harare on 27 January 1992 and was laid to rest on 1 February. She was affectionately known to Zimbabweans as Amai. She died of a kidney ailment. It was soon after her marriage to President Mugabe in 1961 that she started taking part in politics. Having been born in Ghana herself, a country that attained independence in 1957, she was disturbed by the racial discrimination that was still in the then Rhodesia. It was through this firm determination to liberate Zimbabwe that she organised and urged other women to join the struggle.
When President Mugabe arrived in Mozambique in 1975, Cde Sally Mugabe continued as counsellor of the young guerillas. She also lobbied for financial and material support for the armed struggle. Cde Sally Mugabe also worked tirelessly for the welfare of children and the underprivileged members of the society especially when she assumed the role of patron to the Mutemwa Leprosy Centre in Mutoko.
In 1988, she established the Child Survival and Development Foundation Committee for Zimbabwe.
In 1989, Amai Mugabe became the first secretary of the united Zanu-PF Women’s League and Secretary for Women’s Affairs in the party’s Politburo.
General Josiah Magama Tongogara was commander of Zanla forces. Cde Tongogara passed on in Mozambique on 26 December 1979 in a car accident. He was buried in Zimbabwe on 11 August 1980.
Cde Tongogara worked in the youth wing of Zanla in Zambia before he went to receive military and intelligence training, political science, mass media and guerilla war strategy and tactics in China. On his return, he trained Zanla cadres in Tanzania.
Apart from that Cde Tongogara made arrangements for the Zanla forces to work with Frelimo in Mozambique alongside President Samora Machel. His outstanding achievements helped him assume the role of military commander of Zanla and chairman of the High Command in 1972. In 1977, Cde Tongogara was re-elected to the party’s central committee as secretary for defence, a post he held till his death. He also played a crucial role to the events leading to the ceasefire between Rhodesian Forces and the Zanla/Zipra forces.
Every Zimbabwean therefore must look back and remember always the dreams of those who started the struggle for our own freedom, emancipation, restoration, dignity and identity.
l Vaidah Mashangwa is the provincial development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development. She can be contacted on 09 889224/ 0772 111 592. Email [email protected]
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